Apple Rolls Out Fifth AirPods Beta Firmware for H2‑Chip Models
The update unlocks iOS 27 AirPods features on H2‑chip devices and positions the earbuds for a public release around Apple’s September event.
Overview
- Apple released beta build 9A5347a on Thursday, Aug. 20, 2026, making it the fifth test firmware sent to developers and public beta testers.
- The firmware targets H2‑chip AirPods — AirPods Pro 3, AirPods Pro 2, AirPods 4, and AirPods Max 2 — and adds support for iOS 27 features such as a redesigned AirPods interface.
- New controls enabled by the update include an Adaptive mode slider, support for custom EQ settings, and compatibility with Apple’s new Siri AI features.
- Users can opt into the AirPods beta from the AirPods settings on devices running iOS, iPadOS, or macOS 26 or later, and the update installs automatically while the AirPods are charging and connected, a process that can take several hours.
- This rapid beta cadence — the prior build 9A5336b arrived about two weeks earlier — signals Apple is preparing a wider consumer firmware rollout to ship alongside iOS 27 and likely revealments at its September event.